A Rare Breed

by Bob Setzer, Jr.
Our church is one of an increasingly rare breed: a congregation that is multi-generational in makeup. More and more congregations--especially the flagship churches of the church growth movement--are focused on a particular group: twenty-somethings, baby boomers, young professionals on the rise, and so on. It has long been recognized that in churches, as elsewhere, “birds of a feather fly together.”

Problem is, that’s not what the Kingdom of God is supposed to look like. According to Jesus, the Kingdom of God is like a tiny seed that grows into a tree with strong, welcoming branches where all the birds of the air make their nests (Luke 13:19).

So I celebrate the diversity of ages and stations in life represented in our church. I love the spontaneity of the children, the vitality of the youth, the social conscience of the young adults, the moral earnestness of the mid-lifers, and the wisdom of the mature. I like seeing races and nationalities different from my own in worship. I like being in a church where thoughtful Democrats and Republicans can move beyond the predicable ideological posturing to ask, “What does that have to do with the Gospel?” I like being in a church where people are defined not so much by how they are alike, but how they are different and yet bound together by the Christ who forms the heart of our fellowship.

Well, okay, to be honest, most of the time I like those things, because diversity does bring with it certain tensions. People of varying generations and traditions have differing values, preferences, and expectations.

Take Sunday’s Processional of Commitment. For the past half-century or so on the first Sunday in November--All Saints’ Sunday--members of our congregation have marched forward, one-by-one, to place a commitment card in the little church on the altar. Most older, long-time members of our church deeply value this time of celebration and commitment. It’s one of the few times First Baptist folk leave their pews to process down the aisles, joyously proclaiming their love for Jesus and the church!

But to some newer members of the congregation--and younger people in general--the Processional of Commitment feels showy and ostentatious. This newer generation didn’t have a hand in creating this tradition and doesn’t always understand or appreciate it. A good number of these folk choose to skip Processional Sunday altogether.

In the spirit of a better Kingdom ethic, let me suggest an alternative: if the Processional of Commitment doesn’t appeal to you, feel free to sit quietly in your pew and silently enjoy the pageantry and joy erupting around you. And those who march must promise not to raise an eyebrow at those who don’t! We’re in this together after all. We belong to one another. And we belong to Jesus.